THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Muhammad Khan has stated that he cannot sign the Public Health Bill which was passed by the Legislative Assembly in March as per the government's demand. He has sent the bill for legal advice. The legal advisor S Gopakumaran Nair is currently visiting the US. This situation indicates that the bill will not be signed soon.

The Chief Secretary and the Health Secretary had requested the Governor to approve the bill for the protection of public health including epidemic control. In response to complaints from Ayush doctors about the bill, the Governor also sought an explanation from the government. The government replied that the complaints were baseless and that the bill was passed considering all aspects with nothing illegal. However, the Governor also realized that the bill was passed without discussion in the last legislative session due to the opposition's noise. When asked about this, the government reminded that the legislature has the sovereign power to pass bills. Subsequently, the bill was sent for legal advice.

The Governor had received a complaint that the bill was unconstitutional, encroached on the powers of local bodies, and overlooked treatment categories other than allopathy. The government has refuted these claims, stating that they are baseless.

The primary objection is that the AYUSH section is not given sufficient consideration in the bill, which was prepared by combining the Madras Public Health Act of 1939 and the Thiru Kochi Public Health Act of 1955. Registered medical practitioners are authorized to issue disease-free certificates to those affected by infectious diseases but Ayurvedic and homeopathic practitioners do not have complete freedom of treatment. A committee headed by allopathic doctors is given the authority to decide the treatment protocol. The Allopathic Medical Officer will be empowered to conduct examinations at Ayush treatment centres and refer patients to other places without prior notice. The concern is that all of this will undermine the cost of treatment systems other than allopathy.

The government's stance:

The Bill does not violate the equality of opportunity provision in the Constitution.

There are no provisions empowering local bodies.

The claim that only allopathy is accepted is untrue.

Ayush doctors have no restrictions.